WRFL: Parkside prepares to bounce back in 2023

Parkside is feeling confident about the future despite losing the Division 2 grand final with coach Chris Muratore excited about his playing group’s potential.

Parkside is feeling more optimistic than pessimistic after its grand final loss.

The Magpies came close to causing a major boilover in the WRFL Division 2 grand final against the undefeated Point Cook Centrals but in the end fell by 18 points.

Holding a one-point lead at the main break, it appeared the unthinkable could be on the cards but eventually the Sharks’ quality shone through.

Despite the result, coach Chris Muratore believes there are still more exciting times ahead.

“This year we had a really good season,” he said.

“When you’re planning for a football year, you can’t really plan for what Point Cook Centrals did, it’s something you one see once every 10 years.

“We had a goal to have both sides (seniors and reserves) in the grand final which we managed to do. Unfortunately we just couldn’t come away with any silverware.

Point Cook Centrals’ Mark Hanson tackles Parkside’s Samuel Dukic during WRFL Division 2 Grand Final. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We feel we’ve been the best side overall in the past couple of years. We were second last year when the season got called off so we know we’re in a good spot.

“If we had of won it, we would have 100 per cent of gone up because that’s the challenge this club is seeking.”

A five-goal to one third quarter proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Despite getting within 10 points in the last quarter, with a breeze at their back, Parkside was unable to make the most of its opportunities.

Ned Fraser, Jy Lambley, Luke Vraca, Mick Jubb, Shaun Campbell and Nathan Montague were best in defeat.

“Three minutes probably cost us when they kicked a couple of goals in a row during the third,” Muratore said.

“We had been working on a different looking defensive press in the lead up to the game as a way of counteracting the way Point Cook Centrals moved the footy. It seemed to be working well, the boys had really good buy in to such a big change so late in the season.

“Just a few thing didn’t go our way and on another day we could have been celebrating a premiership.”

Point Cook Centrals’ Kwar Ater and Corey Vandermeer pressure Parkside’s Nathan Montague. Picture: Andy Brownbill

While still hurting from Saturday’s loss, Muratore and his coaching staff are already planning for 2023.

And he believes his side will again find itself in premiership contention.

“It all starts on Wednesday,” he said.

“We’re two to three weeks behind everyone else because our season went a bit longer. We’re in a really good place with our list demographic.

“Guys including Jonah Vraca and Ned Fraser are only 22, 23 so they’ve got another level to go to. Luke Vraca and some other boys are coming into their peak at around 26.

“We’ve got our eyes on a couple of areas including an outside midfielder. A big forward might be something we look at as that bail out kick, BK (Brent Kelly) and (Jackson) Lesko are different types to that.

“But we won’t be going out and doing too much. About 95 per cent of our list has already re-signed for next year.”